An Elmo Breakfast Birthday Party!

My sweet angel turned two last week. I keep pinching myself about it, because it's super emotional to think back over the past two years of his life. But he's so funny, you guys, because he asked for an Elmo birthday party. With an Elmo cake. How does he know to ask about these things?! We weren't going to do a party for him this year, because honestly, we threw a big shindig last year and it was tons of fun (please tell me you remember my hand-made fruit pirate ship) - but also tons of work. And I wanted to just give myself a pass on this one. However, when Everett asked about his birthday party (we've been to several birthday celebrations lately), and said, "want Elmo cake", everything in my mama heart said, "You got it!"

Thank goodness Publix makes a mean Elmo cake. Twenty balloons, a carton of Starbucks coffee, and a bag of Panera bagels later, we were in business. This was a great, eeeeeasy birthday party. We just invited our families over for a 9am breakfast (because we are a big family!), let the kids run through the sprinklers and it was the perfect amount of hoopla and celebration.

Oh, and the birthday boy got to pick a special donut for breakfast. Because apparently you can't eat healthy on your birthday around here...

Cousins table!!! Many thanks to Travis & Liz for gifting us this amazing kid's picnic table.

I was a tiiiiiiny bit nervous about having him blow out the candles. I mean, that fire was close to his face. Thankfully, his cousin Wynn helped him out with the task. And Everett couldn't have cared less, because he was super enamored with the birthday song. He is still asking me to sing it to him, every day when he wakes up. "Bird-day song, mom?"

"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to"

People ask me all the time, "Why did you guys move from NYC?? Don't you miss it?" and of course I do. But when I see these photos of my son tumbling in the grass with his cousins and getting loved on by his grandparents and getting affirmed by his aunts and uncles, I am more sure than ever that we made the right choice. Everett is the happiest boy, so loved by everyone around him, and it's such an honor and a hilarious joy to be his mom every day. Happy 2nd birthday to my bright, beautiful boy!

Baby #2 - A 20 Week Bumpdate.

This has been, simultaneously, the fastest and slowest pregnancy ever. The first trimester dragged on for an eternity and I thought there would be no end in sight with all the nausea, exhaustion and headaches. But oh my goodness, the second trimester is flying by - the only reason I'm able to remember where I'm at in this pregnancy is because the belly of mine is growing like mad. I am definitely bigger this time around than I was with Everett - sometimes I give myself grace like, "hey, it's a second baby, these things happen!", and then sometimes I'm legitimately worried that I'm growing a 19-lb. human inside of me. I've already grown quite a bit since these family photos were taken a few weeks back by the wonderful Rachel Koontz.

I thought it was high time to resume the bumpdates that I had going the last time I was pregnant. Because its fun. And actually, I have been referring back to those bumpdates lately, trying to remember what I felt like back then. So it's helpful, at least to me!

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How Far Along: 20 weeks - 5 months!

Gender: Unknown, but only for 1 more day!

Name: haa yeah right. Ideas please??

Sleeping? Yes! Thankfully. Although I'm beginning to think I need the body pillow I used the last time I was pregnant...

Eating: Fruit! And big breakfasts! My appetite has picked up significantly in the past few weeks, and I am hungry around the clock. Though by dinnertime I couldn't care less about eating. So my day starts out really hearty and healthy and kind of peters out... I wish I wanted to eat more vegetables, they are still grossing me out. Stevie's been force-feeding me asparagus and tomatoes. Yuck.

Emotional Check: I feel like my normal self - none of the mood swings I was experiencing during my first pregnancy! I used to cry all the time, but this pregnancy hasn't been anything like that. In fact, I am just feeling really energetic and alive these days. I'm trying to take advantage of this second tri burst of energy before it leaves me in the third tri. Meaning I've got like 6 half-finished house projects going on right now :)

Movement: Yes! I started feeling the baby move around 17 weeks, which was really reassuring and special. Feeling the baby move is always a turning point for me; beginning to feel connected to this alive little person inside. It's pretty remarkable, actually. I love the feeling, and it makes me super grateful that I am able to house this little treasure inside my body.

Looking Forward to: Finding out the gender this week! And going on a babymoon to London this week! <-- We are heading across the pond for a dear friend's wedding, but we are treating this little baby-free getaway as our last big alone trip before we become parents of two. My oh my. The time is passing me by, friends!

Wearing:
BCBG Maxi Dress (old, I've linked to a few similar below)

BCBG Christel Floral Lace Gown

ASOS Millie Mackintosh Maxi

Free People X Daisry Petal Maxi Dress

Tularosa "Kyle" High Neck Dress

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Stevie and I are doing our best to be intentional as a family of 3 before things change this holiday season. We want Everett to know how special and loved he is, even with all the changes of a new sibling that are upon us. Any ideas on how to get the most out of being a family of three? Any fun ideas for special dates to do with a 2-year old?

A great thanks to Rachel Koontz, Eyesong Photography for taking these lovely photos of my family :)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Everett!

Tonight when I was putting you into bed, at the very last moment, you wrapped your arms around my neck and placed your head to sweetly on my shoulder. You sighed softly and said, "My mommy." I was so taken aback - this wasn't something you had ever done. So of course I answered, "My Everett", and you replied, "My mommy", and we did this over and over again. About ten times in total. Then you leaned your body down, motioning that you were ready for bed.

I laid you down, my memory flooding with the moments of being in labor with you, exactly two years before. My Everett.

I am overwhelmed by how tender you are, how unbelievably sensitive and outspokenly sweet you are. You are all boy, with the yelling and the stomping and the throwing balls at all the furniture in the house. But then you are also my Everett, telling me my dress is beautiful (true story - every single time I wear a dress, he says, "Mommy dress beautiful") and noticing when I actually fix my hair ("Mommy take shower? Mommy, what with this hair?"). You are a mountain of a person - so full of life and love and goodness, that I am convinced that the world is a precious place, just because you are in it.

I can't believe you're two today. This second year of your life has been teeming with adventure - you took your first steps the week of your 1st birthday, just a few days after moving into this new house. You started "school" and hated it so much it made both of us cry. Thank goodness you realized how much fun it can be when you let your teachers and friends love on you. You learned to throw a ball and a frisbee and swing at the playground and run fast. You broke your leg. That really sucked. But we watched you heal and it made both my muscles and my heart stronger, carrying you and caring for you. You are a person of great boldness and courage and strength. I couldn't be prouder of you, little son.

Your favorite things these days? You love bagels. Fire trucks. Dinosaurs. ELMO. The color green. Playing outside. Riding on the golf cart. When Dad gets home from work. Wearing your hat backwards. Wearing Nikes. Eating waffles. Balloons. "Flying" with Dad. Reading books before bed. Fruit snacks. Bird watching! And a million other things, because you love a lot. You're the best thing in my world. It's such a privilege being your mom.

I love you so much, Everett. Happy 2nd Birthday, my boy.

P.S. - My mushy thoughts on Everett's 1st birthday.

Toddler Date at the Zoo!

Last weekend we paid Zoo Atlanta a little visit with Everett's "friend" (we say girlfriend, but don't want to be too obviously pushy... who am I kidding??) The last time I took Everett to the zoo, he wasn't that into it, so I'm glad that this time around he was super excited and engaged. He absolutely loved the giraffes and elephants, and kept yelling "MORE ANIMALS!" after each animal exhibit. We did a lot of the "extra" zoo stuff, like feeding the giraffes and riding the train and spinning on the Merry Go Round. It's so much fun going places like the Zoo with kids, because it makes you feel alive again. It makes you remember how freaking cool it is that these animals live on the Earth, so enormous and beautiful and exotic.

A few (alright, more than a few) pictures below of our time at the zoo with friends and Everett's "friend" :)

Preparing to feed the giraffes. Finley wasn't so sure.

Amazing!!! So so cool!

This is my favorite thing ever. Look at my happy blonde boys :)

Kind of a lame/blurry photo, I know, but he was really into the gorillas.

He was also really into baby Hollen, sweet Finley's new little sis.

The Merry Go Round! I stayed on for approximately 3 minutes before leaping off due to nausea. I think I freaked out the Merry Go Round attendant.

Just so you know, about half the photos I ever take have Everett doing something like this. It's not always rainbow and sunshine and laughter. Sometimes it's attitude, discipline and coping mechanisms.

And then we rode the choo choo train!

I'm dying here. WE DID NOT MAKE THEM DO THIS. It just came natural.

We had such a great day at the zoo (even though it was like 150 degrees and I was having mild heat stroke), and it made me reeeeeelly excited about taking Everett to Disney World in the fall. He did so great with all the exhibits and I just know he will be absolutely dumbfounded at all the whimsical fantastic-ness of The Magic Kingdom.

We absolutely love Zoo Atlanta and we will have to make a return trip in the fall. Because of the heat on this particular day, we didn't get to see the lions or the elephants because they were hiding out in their dens. I don't blame them. If I had a lair, I would milk that. Especially in this insane Georgia heat/humidity.

How are you enjoying your summer with your family? Any fun family ideas you can offer? We want to keep trying fun activities as a family of three before we have another little person arrive this winter! xox

P.S. I am wearing this Tart Maternity dress and this Clement cuff (c/o Le Tote), and these Anthropologie earrings and sandals. Everett is wearing this top from and these shorts from Old Navy, and Stevie is wearing who knows what. I should probably shop for him a little more.

Happy Birthday, America!

"Happy Birthday, America!", we would say, and he would answer, "Americaaaaaa!!!"

It was pretty darn cute.

And it didn't get old, hearing him say it. All day long.

Our 4th of July felt like the perfect staycation. Last year it poured rain and we were house hunting on this holiday (best realtor ever is all I have to say about that), but this year we really wanted to savor the sweet 3-day weekend. We stayed home and actually enjoyed this little town of ours! We went to a friend's lake for the day, and then just cruised around on our golf cart, eating popsicles and, of course, wishing America a very happy birthday. Everett even sang his version of the birthday song while we drove - iits very hard to decipher, I just know that's what he's getting at. Our suburb has more golf cart path mileage than actual road mileage, so we can get anywhere we need on our little "g-ride" (that's what we call it). It's such a fun, eco-friendly way to live, and it also turns every little errand into an activity. Because Everett loves loves loves going on a g-ride.

I've celebrated the 4th of July is a lot of different cities, and I have to admit that my hometown is the most wildly festive place to do the 4th of July. It's almost insane how much American pride and celebratory spirit is looming on this special day. It feels like an eventful birthday party that everyone in town is invited to! This community does such a wonderful job of rallying together and getting silly and dressing up and decorating and I have to admit - it's just a ridiculous lot of fun. I'm discovering really special things about this place all the time, things I never realized were so special until I moved away for years. Now that I live here again, especially with my own family, it's really amazing to enjoy and appreciate those things. Like the crazy 4th of July hoopla.

For yesterday's 4th of July festivities, we went to the parade across town and camped out along the side of the road with some dear friends and family. Our friends staked out the perfect location at 5:00am (yes, you read that right), and then provided the crew with coffee and breakfast burritos (and homemade salsa!) Thank you, sweet Koontz family! We enjoyed our morning eats and cheered as the floats and vintage cars passed us by, while Everett caught candy and eagerly stuffed it into his bucket. He had some help from the big kids, so he ended up with more candy than we could ever need in this household. I need to throw it out, because I will be the only one tempted to eat it.

Kid tried to steal my pearls.

Our decorated golf cart! I just had to snap a pic of it all decked out.

Everyone came in their patriotic wear! I love how festive our community is.

Kid stole my drink. Man he's lucky he's cute.

Everett and a handful of his cousins :)

^ She likes to photobomb, so I figured she wanted to be featured. You win, Kelley!

This makes me laugh because Everett looks so bored. While being tossed in the air?!

Kid stole my hat. He's starting to take this, "What's mine is yours" philosophy a bit too seriously.

My little family of three. Slash four. #whoanelly

After the parade was over, we went over to my sis-in-laws (thanks for taking some of these photos, Lauren!) and swam at her pool. Everett fell asleep in the golf cart on the way home from her house because, hello, sensory overload. And I just couldn't help but snap a few sleepy baby photos. He's getting so big, but he's still my little baby when he sleeps. Any other moms know what I mean?? Also, babies in tank tops forever please.

Don't let Stevie fool you. He was LOVING this moment. He's a softy when it comes to Everett :)

We attempted the fireworks later on in the evening, and my little guy liked them for about 60 seconds before he suddenly didn't. He looked at me and said, "No fireworks, Mom! I go home!" And then he scurried up onto the seat of our golf cart and commanded that we join him. Stevie and I just looked at each other and laughed. We weren't too sad though, because any excuse to go home and get extra sleep is welcomed in this family. I expect to have many years ahead to stay up late watching the fireworks, but this year wasn't one of them.

Happy birthday to you, dear America!

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I hope you had the happiest holiday celebrating with your people. What is your absolutely favorite 4th of July tradition?

P.S. - I have to admit - I did have an epic fail on this day. I dropped my gorgeous homemade flag cake on the kitchen floor and it wasn't redeemable. I had to mourn that loss for a minute. #theresalwaysnextyear

P.P.S. - My dress is from Target (here), my hat is from J. Crew (old, but similar here), my shoes are Keds (here) and Everett's shirt is from Old Navy (here).